Lemon juice adds a zippy, citrus flavor to your foods and drinks. But, not everyone likes lemons. Or, you might not feel like running out to the store. Not to worry, then. There are lots of lemon alternatives to try.
Ahhhh lemon juice. TheSwiss Army knifeof the culinary arts. So fresh. So fine. So sour. But what happens when lifedoesn’tgive you lemons? Don’t get sour. We scoured thecookbooks, so you don’t have to.
The 11 zest,erm, best lemon juice substitutes are:
Here are the deets on each.
11 substitutes for lemon juice
Whether you want to try something new or just don’t feel like going to the store (we feel that), there’s a bushel of alternative options.
1. Lime juice
Can you substitute lime juice for lemon juice? Absolutely!Limesand lemons are often used interchangeably. They’re both tart, acidic citrus fruits and have similar nutrition.
Bonus: Limes also have the advantage of being easier to squeeze by hand.Key lime pie, anyone?
2. Orange juice
Orange juice— aka lemon juice’s Floridian friend — is another type of citrus fruit. A little sweeter and less acidic,OJmakes the perfect substitute for things like sweet sauces and salad dressings.
Just keep in mind, OJ has more calories, sugar, and carbs than lemon juice. But it’s also a better source of vitamin C and potassium. A 1 fluid ounce serving oforange juicehas:
3. Grapefruit juice
Considergrapefruit, lemon’s larger cousin. It’s juicy AF, and you’re able to prob get a cup of liquid goodness from a single fruit.
Much like the orange, it’s prob best not to use this hefty fella in dishes that have a very lemony taste (e.g. lemon bars or lemon meringue pie). But it can def add a zesty kick to fresh salads or fruit dishes. We also love that grapefruit is a decentsourceof vitamin C andpotassium.
BTW, it’s worth mentioning grapefruit can interfere with certain medications. Theyincludesome meds used to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure, allergies, and anxiety. So, you might want to double-check with your healthcare professional before going to town on these juicy fruits.
4. Red wine vinegar
While red wine vinegar has a very different flavor profile than lemon juice, it’s great if you want a quick kick of something acidic. Additionally, red wine vinegar is low in calories, carbs, and sugar. It’s also a decent source of potassium. A 2-tablespoon serving ofred wine vinegarhas 5.66 kcal and 11.62 mg of potassium.
Just remember thatred wine vinegarcan be overpowering. That said, it might work best in dishes that require a decent amount of cooking time. The cooking process helps subdue the intensity.
P.S. Like lemon juice, you can use red wine vinegar tocleanyour house!
5. Citric acid
Citric acid is mainly used as afood preservative. But it can also mimic the acidity and bright notes of lemon juice. Because it lacks in lemony flavor, citric acid might work best in recipes that call for lemon zest, not lemon juice. You can buy it in powder form in health food stores or online.
FYI: Citric acid has 0 g of fat, sugar, and carbs.
6. Lemon zest
Lemon zestgives you all the flavor of lemons without having to actually use any of the juice. It’s great for when you don’t have enough lemons to juice or accidentally used the lemon juice for something else.
Lemon zest is low in calories, but high in fiber andvitamin C. You can also use it to get rid of the smell of that 3-month-oldeggyou forgot about in the back of the fridge.
7. White wine
White winemakes a great lemon juice alternative thanks to its acidity. You’re going to want to stick with the dry whites, though. Opt for sauvignon blancs, pinot grigio, or Vinho Verde.
While it has less nutritional benefits than lemon juice, white wine’s not entirely terrible when used in small servings. The average 1 fluid ounce serving ofwhite table winehas:
Not aboozefan? No problem! Most of the actual alcohol inwhite winewill evaporate during thecooking process. This makes it a great option for sauteed dishes, grilling, or sauces.
8. Lemon extract
Concentrate. No, seriously. Lemon extract is concentrated lemon juice. That means it’s the fab substitute if you want something that has that maximum lemon overdrive flavor.
One possible prob is that lemon extract is much less acidic than lemon juice. So, it might not work in recipes that require bright, acid-y tones.
9. Cream of tartar
Potassium bitartrate — P. Biddy, if you will — doesn’t bring a lot of flavor to the table. But it does pump up the party through the magic of chemistry. Cream of tartar can mimic lemon juice’sleaveningeffect. This can make it a great ingredient in cakes, breads, and meringues.
Potassium PSA:A 2-teaspoon serving of cream of tartar has a whopping990 mg of potassium.
10. Apple cider vinegar (ACV)
This versatilevinegardoesn’t bring much (or any) lemon flavor to the table. But what it lacks in lemon, it makes up for in a tang.ACVhas a bitter, slightly sweet flavor. It works well in savory dishes like braised greens or baked beans. You can also mix some with nut milk as a veganbuttermilk substitute.
As an added perk, you can turnACVinto a GOAT DIY cleaning product. Just mix one partACVwith one part water and shake it up in a bottle. Then spritz is all over thesticky surfacesthat need a good a scrub down.
11. Celery juice
A noted Gumby impersonator and the bane of children worldwide, celery experienced a surprising surge ofpopularityin recent years. Although much less acidic than lemon juice,celery juicehas a similar so-fresh-and-so-clean taste. And sometimes that’s all a recipe needs to go from good to BAM.
Just in case you’re curious, here are the nutrition deets for a 1 fluid ounce serving ofcelery juice:
Lemon juice is a multitalented ingredient that’s used in tons of tasty deserts, drinks, and meals. While nothing can match itsexactflavor profile, there are lots of alternatives that make great substitutes. They include other citrus fruit juices, lemon extract, vinegars, white wine, celery juice, and cream of tartar.
You might already have some of the 11 best lemon juice alternatives in your kitchen. But if not, you can also easily grab them at your local grocery store.
